Question 1

Can non-Muslims enter the Koutoubia Mosque?

Accepted Answer

No. The Koutoubia is an active mosque and entry to the prayer hall is restricted to Muslims. Visitors of all faiths are welcome to walk around the exterior and the surrounding Lalla Hasna gardens, which give the best photographic views of the minaret.

Question 2

What does Koutoubia mean?

Accepted Answer

The name comes from the Arabic 'kutubiyyin', meaning 'the booksellers'. The mosque was once surrounded by a souk of manuscript dealers and the trade gave the building its enduring name.

Question 3

How tall is the minaret?

Accepted Answer

The minaret stands 77 metres (253 ft) tall. By city ordinance, no nearby building may rise higher than a palm tree, so the Koutoubia remains visible from almost every point in the medina.

Question 4

What style is the Koutoubia built in?

Accepted Answer

Almohad architecture, the dynastic style of 12th-century Morocco and al-Andalus. The minaret combines sandstone and rubble masonry with carved stucco and tile bands, and is the prototype for the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower in Rabat.

Koutoubia Mosque — Marrakech

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